Ola M. “Pat” Simmons

Ola M. “Pat” Simmons, 97, lifelong resident of Big Spring, passed away Friday, July 5, 2024. The family will receive friends from 5pm-7pm, Monday, July 8, 2024 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2pm, Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel. Interment will follow at Mount Olive Memorial Park.

Pat was born December 11, 1926 in Big Spring, Texas to parents Beulah Alice (Crayton) and Roy Ruler Holcombe. She was born the middle child of 7 children and was raised by her aunt, Nezie Wilson Canterbury after her mother passed away before she was 6 years old. She was born during the depression. She graduated from Big Spring High School in 1944 and then attended Bantley Draughn Business College. She had worked for Southwestern Bell in Ft. Worth and Big Spring; Echlin-Erwin & Crowell Insurance in El Paso; Harkrider Insurance of Midland, Parks Agency in Big Spring for 5 years and Big Spring State Hospital Pharmacy for over 18 years before retiring in 1991.

Pat was always involved in church activities at First Christian Church, which she grew up in, later the Nazarene Church where she served as a greeter at both churches. Later she attended Trinity Baptist and was currently a member of First Baptist Church.

Pat’s community involvement included: Assisted and chaired: Cranefest, Annual Christmas Bird Count, Proud Citizens, Proud Patrol – later Code Patrol, Yellow Rose Award – founded, later “Doing Your Part Beautification Award. She founded and chaired: Comanche Trail Festival of Lights, Keep Big Spring Beautiful and Code Patrol, Adopt A Block/Spot/Pavilion and founded and chaired Big Spring High School Reunions since 1972 for the classes of 1943, 44, 45 and 46.

She also volunteered for Pops in the Park, Hangar 25 and Hang Gliders; assisted Everett Bender with “Kingdom Leadership” and Faith Based Task Force, Alon Refinery Explosion and the Drive Through Nativity at the Nazarene Church. She was also named Woman of the Year in 1998, DAR Patriotism Award 2/20, Keep Texas Beautiful OP Schnabel Lifetime Award 2005, Mason Grand Lodge of Texas Community Builders Award 12/4/08 and the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow Award 2009. Pat had a street named after her in the Big Spring City Park called “Pat Simmons Way”.
She enjoyed bird watching, which she and sister, Letha Peck, enjoyed being together going to many cities and states to record birds not seen locally and add to their list of sightings. They traveled to Big Bend, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. She lost her birding partner in 2003 to cancer. She did the Christmas Bird Count for several years, giving it up when she had to make a choice between it and Comanche Trail Festival of Lights, so, she chose the latter.

Pat is survived by her grandchildren: Ashlie D’Ann Simmons of Washington, Jerrod R. Simmons and wife Trayce of Dallas; nieces: Doris Badgett and husband Billy Ray of Neosho, MO, Cindy Quan and husband Russel of Elizabeth, CO, Wyvonne Spray and husband Dennis of Jayton, Lavonda Doggett and husband Logan of Jayton; nephews: Douglas Earnest and wife Leitha of Lufkin, Marlyn Earnest and wife Mary of Temple, Jay Holcombe of Los Cruces, NM; and Lance Spray and wife Samantha of Jayton and Jimmy Ernest of College Station and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pat was preceded in death by two sons: Shelby Simmons and Dennis Simmons, her parents Roy and Beulah Holcombe, brothers Vernon Holcombe, (who was killed in WWI), Norman R. Holcombe, D.W. “Bozie” Holcombe, H. Denver “Cotton” Holcombe; sisters Marzell Earnest, Letha Peck, nephew Chris Peck and aunt Nezie Wilson Canterbury that raised her; niece Kay Earnest and nephew Steve Holcombe.

The pallbearers will be Scott Earnest, Gregg Earnest, Dr. Jody Reid, Dennis Spray, Bill Wilson and Logan Doggett and honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Earnest and Billy Ray Badgett.

Quote from Pat: “The Lord is my Friend and I walk with Him and try hard not to dishonor Him because I am human, and I sometimes fail him, but He is the center focus of my life.”

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com

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